Tension Bracket

ABSTRACT

The tension bracket is configured to receive an elongated fastener to provide a connection under tension between a secondary structure and a principal support structure. The bracket has a mounting base with two substantially coplanar base sections having complementary opposed adjacent edges. The sections define a plurality of fastener openings and a profile opening. A guide member integrally extends from the sections and has parallel walls disposed above and extending perpendicular to the base sections. A pair of laterally spaced reinforcement ribs project perpendicularly from the base sections. In one embodiment, the tension bracket is formed from a single sheet of metal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/432,154, filed on Feb. 14, 2017, which application claims thepriority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/295,613, filed on Feb.16, 2016, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/347,286, filed on Jun. 8,2016, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/374,214, filed on Aug. 12,2016, the disclosures of which applications are incorporated byreference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates generally to hardware and methods employed fortying or connecting a secondary assembly to a main structure such as,for example, through a sill, a top plate or a stud structure. Moreparticularly, this disclosure relates to brackets which are mounted todeck joists or elongated wood components and receive elongated fastenersthat thread into wood components of the principal structure.

In bracket assemblies to which the present disclosure relates, a metalbracket is fastened to a joist or other elongated wood structure. Manyof the brackets are L-shaped and include an opening through a leg of thebracket that receives a fastener. The fastener is threadably anchored totie the deck to the principal structure. Various bracket configurationshave been advanced. With mixed success, the conventional bracketsattempt to address the constraints of providing a rigid bracketstructure which may be mounted via fasteners to a joist or similar woodmember to provide a high integrity bonding, and a bracket structurewhich accepts and engages a heavy duty fastener and provides a fastenerhead/bracket interface of high structural integrity when the fastener isdriven into the anchoring structure.

The present disclosure is directed to a bracket which is especiallyadapted for easy installation to efficiently transfer a load undertension to a shear load on fasteners anchoring the bracket to a fixedstructure.

SUMMARY

In a preferred embodiment, a bracket has a mounting base and a guidemember. The mounting base comprises two adjacent base sections havingadjacent complementary edges. Each base section defines a top surfaceand a bottom surface and extends from a rear edge to a front edge. Oneor more fastener openings extend from the top surface to the bottomsurface of each respective base section. The guide member extends abovethe top surfaces of the base sections and has a rear edge and anopposite front edge. The adjacent complimentary edges of the basesections combine to define a fastener profile opening extending from aproximal end intermediate the front edges and rear edges of the basemember to a distal portion extending from the proximal end through thefront edges of the base members.

In another embodiment, a bracket comprises a sheet and a guide. Thesheet has adjacent complimentary edges extending from a rear end to afront end, which thereby forms two opposing lateral sections extendingfrom the forward end to the rear end. Each of the adjacent complimentaryedges has a profile section aligned with one another to combine toaccommodate a portion of an elongate fastener. The guide defines alongitudinal axis spaced from the surfaces and laterally aligned withthe adjacent complimentary edges.

Another embodiment of the bracket has a sheet with medial edges disposedin an adjacent relationship and form sections having coplanar surfacesextending from a forward end to a rear end. The bracket also includes aguide with generally parallel wall portions that define a guide slot.The wall portions extend integrally from the sections. One or moreopenings are defined in each of said coplanar surfaces. Each of theadjacent medial edges of the sheet includes a profile section with eachprofile section in lateral alignment with the other profile section. Theprofile sections extend through the forward end of the respectivecoplanar surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bracket in accordance with the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a top plan diagrammatic view of the bracket of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end diagrammatic view of the bracket of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side diagrammatic view, partly in phantom, of the bracket ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an elongated fastener which is employedwith the bracket of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a representative fastenerwhich is employed together with multiple identical fasteners forfastening the bracket of FIG. 1 to a joist or wood member;

FIGS. 7A-7D are annotated schematic illustrations of possiblesill-to-ledger/joist alignment scenarios for which the bracket of FIG. 1is adapted for installation;

FIG. 8 is a side view of an installation of the bracket of FIG. 1 forthe scenario of FIG. 7B;

FIG. 9 is a bottom diagrammatic view of the installation of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a joist joined to a ledgerboard by a joist hanger;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a bracket;

FIG. 12 is a top plan diagrammatic view of the bracket of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an end diagrammatic view of the bracket of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a sectional diagrammatic view, taken along the lines A-A, ofFIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a side diagrammatic view of the bracket of FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 is a top plan diagrammatic view, portions in phantom, of a thirdembodiment of a bracket together with a fastener assembly partly brokenaway;

FIG. 17 is an end view of the bracket of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a side diagrammatic view, portions in phantom, of the bracketof FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged left side view of a retainer washer employed withthe bracket of FIG. 16;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged side view of the retainer washer employed withthe bracket of FIG. 16;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged diagrammatic top view, partly in phantom, of theretainer washer employed with the bracket of FIG. 16;

FIG. 22 is a top plan view, portions in phantom, portions broken awayand portions schematically illustrated, of a fourth embodiment of abracket together with a fastener assembly;

FIG. 23 is a side elevational view, portions in phantom and portions indiagram form, of the bracket of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is an enlarged left side view of a retainer washer employed withthe bracket of FIG. 22;

FIG. 25 is an enlarged side view of the retainer washer of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a diagrammatic top view, partly in phantom, of the retainerwasher employed with the bracket of FIG. 22;

FIG. 27 is a diagrammatic top plan view, portions in phantom, of a fifthembodiment of a bracket together with a fastener assembly partiallybroken away;

FIG. 28 is a diagrammatic end view of the bracket of FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is a diagrammatic side view, portions in phantom, of the bracketand fastener of FIG. 27;

FIG. 30 is a diagrammatic top plan view, portions in phantom, of theretainer washer employed with the bracket/fastener assembly of FIG. 27;

FIG. 31 is a diagrammatic left end view, portions in phantom, of theretainer washer employed with the bracket/fastener assembly of FIG. 27;

FIG. 32 is a side view, portions in phantom, of the retainer washeremployed with the bracket/fastener assembly of FIG. 27;

FIG. 33 is an annotated diagrammatic side view of the fastener employedwith the bracket/fastener assembly of FIG. 27;

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a bracket;

FIG. 35 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the bracket of FIG.34;

FIG. 36 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the bracket of FIG. 34;

FIG. 37 is a diagrammatic left end view of the bracket of FIG. 34;

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of a bracket;

FIG. 39 is a top plan view of the bracket of FIG. 38;

FIG. 40 is an enlarged view of a central portion of the bracket asillustrated in FIG. 39;

FIG. 41 is an end view of the bracket of FIG. 38;

FIG. 42 is a side sectional view of the bracket of FIG. 41 taken alongthe line B-B thereof; and

FIG. 43 is a diagrammatic side sectional view, portions illustrated inphantom, of the sectional view of FIG. 42.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the drawings wherein like numerals represent likeparts throughout the several figures, a bracket in accordance with thepresent disclosure is generally designated by the numeral 10. Thebracket 10 has particular application in relation to tie-in assemblieswhich connect under tension a secondary structure, such as a deck, to awood component of the principal structure. The bracket 10, as well asall the other disclosed brackets hereafter, functions to transfer a loadunder tension from, for example, a ledger board, to a shear load on thefasteners which anchor the bracket to a joist. The brackets can also beemployed to connect a deck post or a floor-to-floor connection andnumerous other applications.

The bracket 10 receives an elongated heavy duty fastener 12, such asdepicted in FIG. 5, which implements the high tension connection. Thebracket is fastened to a structure, such as a deck joist, by amultiplicity of threaded fasteners 14, such as one of which isillustrated in FIG. 6. Multiple brackets/fasteners installations aretypically required to effectively connect the secondary structure to theprincipal structure and satisfy applicable building codes. For purposesof illustration of a preferred installation, the tension brackets areprimarily described in the context of connecting a deck to a principalstructure.

The bracket 10 is a rugged heavy duty component made of steel, andpreferably stainless steel, from a single unitary piece of materialwhich is cut, formed and bent to provide the final rigid configuration.The bracket 10 is especially configured to provide a high degree offastening integrity to the joist, to provide a very high degree offastener/bracket interface integrity to enhance the anchoring of thefastener 12 under tension to the principal support structure, and toaccommodate and maintain a substantial tension force withoutcompromising the bracket structure. The bracket 10 is dimensioned sothat it can be mounted to the bottom edge of a deck joist, asillustrated in FIG. 9. Dimensions for one embodiment of bracket 10 areindicated in inches in FIGS. 2-4. The bracket 10 is also suitable forvarious other mounting locations and scenarios, as further describedbelow.

The bracket 10 has a base 18 comprising a pair of coplanar base sections20 and 40 which longitudinally extend from a front 22, 42 to a rear 24,and medially engage along serpentine edges 26, 46 which arecomplementary to each other. Each section 20, 40 has a forward centralvertical support wall 30, 50 which integrally extends from the base andforms a rigid support pedestal 60 for an integral guide cylinder 70. Theguide cylinder 70 has a central longitudinal axis 75 which is parallelto the base. The inner diameter of the guide cylinder 70 is slightlylarger than the maximum diameter of the threads 13 of fastener 12. Theguide cylinder 70 properly locates the entry point for the fastener 12and guides the fastener 12 at the proper orientation while it is beingdriven.

The forward edge portions 32, 52, 72 of the support walls 30, 50 and thecylinder 70 are preferably tapered at a 45° angle. The rear edgeportions 34, 54, 74 of the walls and the cylinder are substantiallyvertical except for a chamfer 36, 56 at the lower portion of the supportwalls. The chamfers potentially accommodate an engaged board or woodcomponent. In one embodiment, the inside diameter of the guide cylinder70 is approximately 0.320 inches and the central axis 75 is spaced 0.750inches from the bottom surface of the base 18. The walls 30, 50 of thepedestal extend approximately 0.466 inches from the top surface of thebase. The guide assembly comprising the guide cylinder 70 and theupright walls 30, 50 longitudinally extends rearwardly approximately 2inches from the front of the bracket (see FIG. 4).

Each of the sections 20, 40 includes openings 27, 28, 29 and 47, 48, 49which generally do not longitudinally or transversely align, asparticularly illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. The openings have a slightchamfer and are dimensioned to accept a fastener 14, such as illustratedin FIG. 6. Six openings are illustrated in the drawings, althoughadditional openings may be provided. The purpose of the non-alignedpositioning of the openings, as well as the serpentine engagement of theedges 26, 46, is to provide a bracket engagement which does not easilystrip away from the wood surface to which the bracket is mounted due tothe tension force provided by the bracket installation. The openingslocate the fastener 14 so they will engage the longitudinal grain of thewood in non-aligned and essentially random positions which mitigateagainst splitting and effectively distribute the tension forces uponinstallation.

Transversely spaced upright reinforcement ribs 38 and 58 extendlongitudinally from the front of the bracket rearwardly to anintermediate position to provide a reinforcement structure to preventbuckling of the bracket under an intense tension force when it is fullyinstalled. The ribs preferably have chamfers 37, 39 and 57, 59. V-shapednotches 25 and 55 are disposed at a location 3.5 inches from the rear ofthe bracket to provide a measurement indicator for optimal placement ofthe bracket, as best illustrated in FIG. 9.

One preferred fastener 12 for the bracket is a LogHog® fastener or aThruLok® 9 inch fastener with 3 inch threads 13 manufactured andmarketed by OMG, Inc., of Agawam, Mass. The ThruLok® fastener also has ahalf-point and a hex head 15 with an integral retaining washer formingan integral flange 17.

The preferred fastener 14 for mounting the bracket 10 to the joist is a1½ inch long fastener with a ¼ inch hex drive with an integral flangeand a #8 or #10 diameter with 9 threads per inch and a 1.250 threadlength and a gimlet point as illustrated in FIG. 6. Multiple fasteners14 are required. Naturally, fasteners with other configurations may beemployed.

Four typical sill-to-ledger/joist alignment scenarios are illustrated inFIGS. 7A-7D. The bracket 10, together with the fasteners 12 and 14, areadapted to provide an easily installed connection between the deck joistand the main structure for each of the scenarios. FIG. 7A illustrates aconstruction wherein the sill is in the middle of the joist; FIG. 7Billustrates a construction wherein the sill is even with the bottom edgeof the deck joist; FIG. 7C illustrates a construction wherein the sillis below the bottom edge of the deck joist; and FIG. 7D illustrates aconstruction wherein there is no sill plate and a connection must beaccomplished with the wall stud.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a bracket installation for the constructionconfiguration of FIG. 7B. The bracket 10 is aligned and mounted to thebottom edge of the deck joist by the fasteners 14. Fastener 12 is driveninto the sill plate until the head flange 17 engages against the rearedge 74 of the guide cylinder 70. As best illustrated in FIG. 9, thenotches 25, 45 provide a convenient indication for proper placement ofthe bracket on the joist. For some construction configurations, such asillustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7D, the bracket is mounted to the side ofthe deck joist and driven into either the sill plate (if there is any)or a wall stud. It will be appreciated that the bracket installationsare preferably completed for each of the deck joists.

The bracket is initially properly positioned and fasteners 14 are driventhrough the openings 27, 28, 29 and 47, 48, 49 to secure the bracket tothe joist. The elongated fastener 12 is then inserted into the guidecylinder 70 and driven into the principal support structure until thehead (or flange 17 of the head or a washer) engages against the end 74of the guide cylinder 70. It should be appreciated for a given projectnumerous bracket assemblies as described are installed to provide theproper connecting integrity for the deck/principal structure interface.

With reference to FIG. 10, a deck joist J may be joined to a ledgerboard L by a joist hanger H which is fastened in the corner at theintersection. For such an application, it is possible that the joisthanger H will present a slight clearance problem for a deck tensionbracket in that the central axis of the guide cylinder 70, such as wouldbe employed in bracket 10, is not sufficiently spaced so as to providesufficient clearance for entry of the fastener.

FIGS. 11-15 illustrate a bracket 110 which accommodates a spaceconstraint wherein the guide cylinder 70 for bracket 10 would notprovide sufficient clearance such as, for example, a tie-in for the deckjoist J/ledger board L/joist hanger H structure of FIG. 10. Thecorresponding structures of bracket 110 in FIGS. 11-15 are designatedwith the same numerals as the structures for bracket 10 preceded by thenumeral 1. All dimensions are in inches.

A key focus for bracket 110 is the integral fastener guide 170 which isnow not cylindrical in shape, but has more of an oblong, oval-type shapeelongated from the bottom to the top. The integral guide 170 intransverse dimension is slightly larger than the maximum diameter of thethreads 13 of fastener 12 and in vertical dimension is significantlylarger than the maximum diameter of the threads 13. The centrallongitudinal axis 175 is parallel to the base sections 120 and 140 whichlongitudinally extend from a front 122, 142 to a rear 124 and 144 andagain immediately engage along serpentine edges 126, 146 which arecomplementary to each other.

In this embodiment, the forward edge portions 132, 152 and 172 of thecorresponding support walls 130, 150 and the fastener guide 170 arepreferably tapered at a 37° angle, such as illustrated in FIG. 15. Acentral axis 175 of the guide 170 is preferably spaced 0.850 inches fromthe bottom surface of the base (FIG. 13). The geometry of the guide 170allows for the fastener to be adjusted along a range of heights abovethe bottom of the base 120, 140 so that the fastener entry point intothe ledger board such as, for example, with the construction of FIG. 10will allow the fastener to be generally parallel to the base and toclear the outer edges of the joist hanger H.

The bracket 110 has openings 127, 128, 129, 147, 148, 149 with a slightchamfer which are dimensioned to accept a fastener 14. The bracket alsoincludes transversely spaced upright reinforcement ribs 138 and 158 toprovide a reinforcement structure to prevent buckling of the bracket 110under intense tension when it is fully installed. The ribs 138, 158 mayalso be chamfered.

FIGS. 16-21 illustrate a bracket 210 which accommodates a headroomconstraint wherein the guide cylinder 70 of bracket 10 would not providesufficient clearance. It will be appreciated that correspondingstructures of bracket 210 are designated with the same numerals asbracket 10 preceded by the numeral 2 in FIGS. 16-21. The dimensions arein inches. Rather than a guide cylinder 70, a guide slot 270 which hasgenerally parallel guide walls 231 and 251 is provided. The guide slot270 may extend a greater distance from the base 218 than guide cylinder70. The distance between the guide walls 231 and 251 is slightly largerthan the maximum diameter of the threads 13 of the fastener 12. Theguide slot allows for the fastener to more easily locate a proper entrypoint for the fastener and may provide for a slightly non-parallel oroffset acute angle orientation of the fastener relative to the base 218.

As best illustrated in FIG. 18, the rear edge 233 and 253 of the guidewalls 231 and 251 may have a slight concavity, for example, one inchradius as illustrated in the drawings. This allows for the fastener tobe slightly angled and not parallel with the base so that the fastenercan clear the joist hanger H, for example. A retainer washer 290 with aconcavity which matches the concavity of the rear edge 233, 253 of thewall may be provided, such as illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20. Theretainer washer has a generally U-shape with locking tabs 295 and ismounted to the rear edges so as to engage the walls 231 and 251 andprevent them from transversely separating.

FIGS. 22-26 illustrate a tie-in bracket 310 wherein the bracketgenerally has the same geometry as bracket 210 except for the linearflat rear edges 331 and 351 which are disposed at a right angle to thebase 318 and do not have the concavity characteristic of edges 233 and253. In this embodiment, the retainer washer 390 is substantially linearand is generally rectilinear and again mounts to engage the rear edgeportions of the guide slot 370 and has a vertical slot-like opening 397which receives the fastener 12 (FIGS. 23, 25 and 26). The retainerwasher 390 also has locking tabs 395 which engage rear portions of walls331 and 351.

It will be appreciated that the forward walls of the guide slot areangled at approximately 37° to the base 318. In some modifiedembodiments, the retainer washer 390 extends along the entire rear faceof the rear edges of the guide slot 370 and has a central slot-likeopening 397 so that the fastener and washer may be received at a widevariety of distances from the base 318.

FIGS. 27-33 illustrate a fifth embodiment of a bracket/fastener assemblycomprising a bracket 410 which accommodates a wide range of spaceconstraints and is adapted for a wide range of applications to tie onestructure to a second structure and which is anchored to the firststructure so as to transfer tension forces between the structures toshear forces exerted on the bracket fasteners. The correspondingstructures for brackets 410 in FIGS. 27-33 are designated by the samenumerals as the structure for bracket 10 preceded by the numeral 4. Alldimensions are in inches.

Bracket 410 is adapted for a different method of installation than thatof brackets 10, 110, 210 and 310 in that in the preferred application,the fastener 412 is first torqued into the support structure at alocation either adjacent the side of the joist or the underside edge ofthe joist. After the fastener 412 is torqued a suitable distance, thebracket 410 is then positioned over the upper unthreaded portion of theshank 419 of the fastener 412 so that the head portion comprising thehead 415, the flange 417 and a portion of the unthreaded shank 419passes through an opening 411 (FIG. 27) formed in bracket 410. Fasteners14 are then torqued through the various openings 427, 428, 429, 429A,447, 448, 449, 449A which, in the illustrated (FIG. 27) embodiment, area total of eight. Again, the latter openings are generally not alignedand located in non-aligned positions.

Bracket 410 forms a guide slot 470 having a lateral dimension which issubstantially equal but slightly larger than the outside diameter of theunthreaded upper shank of the fastener (which, in the illustratedembodiment, the lateral dimension is approximately 0.250 inches). Theguide slot 470 extends a distance in the illustrated embodiment of from1¼ inches above the bottom surface of the base to an axis A whichrepresents the central axis of the maximum distance of a receivedfastener above the bottom of the base or above the member to which thebase is fastened. Because the bracket 410 is especially adapted formounting over a fastener which is pre-installed, the base includes anopening 411 which is slightly larger but generally complementary inshape to a profile of the head portion comprising the fastener head 415including the flange 417 and the upper unthreaded portion of thefastener shank 419 so that the head portion will pass through theopening 411 to allow the bracket 410 to be mounted over thepre-installed fastener 412.

The position of the fastener 412 along the guide slot 470 will bedetermined by the pre-installed spaced relationship of the fastener andthe surface of the member to which the bracket will ultimately attach.

For bracket 410, two openings 429A, 459A are formed in the base adjacentthe position of the fastener head 415 when the bracket is properlyinstalled over the fastener. For bracket 410, the reinforcement ribs 438and 458 essentially extend the length of the sections 420 and 440.Because the fasteners 14 are installed after the bracket 410 ispositioned against the wood member and after the fastener 412 isinstalled, there is a clearance constraint. As schematically illustratedin FIG. 27, there is sufficient clearance schematically represented by acircle C so that a 7/16 driver can be employed to torque the fastener 14in place and to allow sufficient clearance with the ribs 438, 458 andthe fastener 412. It should also be appreciated that the position of thefasteners 14 are such that the most amount of the shear load willultimately likely be applied to the fasteners in openings 429A and 459A.

A retainer washer 490 having an elongated slot 492 is then placed overthe upper unthreaded portion of the shank 419 at the underside of theflange 417 so that the retainer slot 492 washer opens downwardly for theillustrated assembly. After all of the fasteners 14 have been connected,the head 415 of the tie-in fastener 412 is slightly torqued so that theflange 417 firmly engages against the retainer washer 490 and the washeris forced against the rear edge of the bracket guide slot 470.

With reference to FIGS. 30-32, the washer 490 has a pair of laterallyspaced wings 494 which will engage the rear portions of the walls of theguide slot 470. The slot 492 terminates in a chamfered arcuate portion496 which is dimensioned as a counterbore for the chamfered portion atthe underside of the head of the fastener 415. As previously described,the washer 490 is placed over the fastener shank 419 after it isinstalled and is disposed between the flange 417 of the fastener head415 and the rear edge of the guide slot 470. The washer 490 functions todistribute the force exerted by the head portion of the fastener againstthe guide slot 470 and also allows for a range of spacings of thepre-installed fastener 412 above the member to which the bracketattaches. The fastener 412 is torqued to snugly engage the washer 490against the bracket after the bracket is installed over the fastener tocomplete the fastener assembly and bracket installation.

It will be appreciated that the retainer washer 490 has wings 494 thatengage against the rear portions of the bracket side walls 431 and 451and keep the walls from flaring outwardly (laterally). The retainerwasher 490 also more equally distributes the load against the end of thebracket. In addition, the guide slot 470 and the bracket positioning,allows for the bracket to be installed in a range of spacings from theside (or the underside) of the joist.

With reference to FIG. 33, it is preferred that the fastener 412 has amark 498 to indicate an acceptable target range for embedding thefasteners. The mark 498 ensures that the installer reliably installs thefastener at a proper positioning to provide a high integrity connectionand to comply with various building codes. The longitudinal ends 497,499 of the mark 498 are preferably spaced 1½ inches apart. There arepreferably two mark ends also spaced from the end of the thread toaccommodate a half-inch OSB board and the ledger board (mark 497) or toaccommodate merely the ledger board with the OSB board not being present(mark 499). The mark 498 can be indicated by a rough surface zone on thefastener which extends between the two markings or a pineapple-likeribbing on the fastener which has opposed ends or a mark inscribedcircumferentially around the fastener or a tape which wraps around thefastener with the opposed sides of the tape indicating the appropriatemarking or a mark which is scored on the side of the fastener.

With reference to FIG. 33, the fastener is properly pre-positioned byreference to the markings on the fastener so as to allow for the bracket410 to be self-positioned once it is mounted over the installedfastener.

FIGS. 34-37 illustrate a sixth embodiment of a bracket 510 whichaccommodates a wide range of space constraints and is adapted for a widerange of applications to tie one structure to a second structure andwhich is anchored to the first structure so as to transfer tensionforces between the structures to sheer forces exerted on the bracketfasteners (not illustrated). Corresponding structures for bracket 510 inFIGS. 34-37 are designated with the same numerals as the structures forbracket 410 except that the structures are preceded by the numeral 5rather than the numeral 4. All dimensions are in inches. Bracket 510 hassubstantially the same structure as bracket 410 and functions insubstantially the same way except for the change in certain dimensionswhich are indicated by an asterisk in FIGS. 35-37 and for otherstructural modifications which are discussed below.

The opening 511 has been enlarged and moved away from the guide slot 570to better accommodate the installation wherein the bracket is mountedover a fastener which is pre-installed. The width of the base 518 isslightly larger.

To further provide headroom for driving the fastener for bracket 510,two openings 519A and 559A are formed in the base 518 at a slightlydifferent position adjacent the position of the fastener head upon thebracket being properly installed over the fastener.

The reinforcement ribs 538 and 558 do not extend the entire length ofthe base, but terminate so that there will be more clearance for drivingfasteners through openings 529 and 549 adjacent the front 522, 542.

FIGS. 38-43 illustrate a seventh embodiment of a bracket 610 which, inone preferred form, has a length of approximately 5.5 inches and a widthof approximately 1.6 inches. Bracket 610 accommodates a wide range ofspace constraints and is adapted for a wide range of applications to tieone structure to a second structure. The bracket is adapted to beanchored to the first structure so as to transfer tension forces betweenthe structures to shear forces exerted on the bracket fasteners (notillustrated in FIGS. 38-43). The corresponding structures for bracket610 in FIGS. 38-43 are designated with the same numerals as for thecorresponding structures for bracket 410 except that the lead numeralsis the numeral 6 rather than the numeral 4. All dimensions are ininches.

The bracket is preferably formed from a single sheet of metal, such assteel. The openings 627 and 647 in the base are positioned to provideample headroom to drive the fasteners through the openings. The adjacentinward engagement edges 626 and 646 of the base 618 are linear andessentially engage along a linear, strip-like interface.

The reinforcement ribs 638 and 658 extend essentially the entire lengthof the base 618 and project upwardly approximately 0.250 inches from thebase.

The upright guide 670 is positioned toward the front end 642, 622 of thebracket. The guide 670 mounts over a pre-installed fastener 12 or otherfastener.

The forward walls 632 and 652 of the guide 670 is angled atapproximately 73° to the base. The linear flat rear edges 631 and 651extend upwardly at essentially a right angle to the base 618.

An opening 611 is formed in the base to accommodate the preferredinstallation wherein the bracket 610 is mounted over the pre-installedfastener.

The central opening 611 is slightly larger and generally complementaryin shape to a profile of the head portion comprising the fastener headand including the flange and upper unthreaded portion of a fastenershank, as best illustrated in FIG. 40.

While preferred embodiments of the foregoing have been set forth forpurposes of illustration, the foregoing descriptions should not bedeemed a limitation of the invention herein. Accordingly, variousmodifications, adaptations and alternatives may occur to one skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the presentinvention.

1. A bracket comprising: a mounting base comprising two adjacent basesections having adjacent complementary edges, each base section defininga top surface and a bottom surface and extending from a rear edge to afront edge with one or more fastener openings extending from the topsurface to the bottom surface of each respective base section; and aguide member extending above the top surfaces of the base sections andhaving a rear edge and an opposite front edge, wherein the adjacentcomplimentary edges of the base sections combine to define a fastenerprofile opening extending from a proximal end intermediate the frontedges and rear edges of the base member to a distal portion extendingfrom the proximal end through the front edges of the base members. 2.The bracket of claim 1, wherein the proximal end is enlarged incomparison to the distal portion.
 3. The bracket of claim 2, wherein theproximal end takes a shape generally like an enlarged head of anelongate fastener.
 4. The bracket of claim 3, wherein the distal portionhas the shape of a fastener shank.
 5. The bracket of claim 1, whereinthe adjacent base sections are substantially flat.
 6. The bracket ofclaim 5, wherein the adjacent base sections are substantially coplanar.7. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the profile has the shape of afastener shank extending from an enlarged fastener head.
 8. The bracketof claim 7, wherein the profile opening includes a profile shape of awasher positioned between the head and the shank.
 9. The bracket ofclaim 1, wherein the guide member comprises a pair of opposing sidewalls, each side wall extending upward from a base section to a top endthat transitions one of the side walls into the other of the guidewalls.
 10. The bracket of claim 1, wherein said guide member has asubstantially U-shaped cross section.
 11. The bracket of claim 1,wherein said guide member extends integrally from said base sections.12. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the guide member comprises a pair ofopposing side walls, each side wall extending upward from a base sectionsubstantially perpendicularly to said base sections.
 13. The bracket ofclaim 1, wherein the rear edge of the guide member extends substantiallyperpendicularly to said base sections and the front edge of the guidemember extends at an acute angle relative to the base sections.
 14. Abracket comprising: a sheet having adjacent complimentary edgesextending from a rear end to a front end, thereby forming two opposinglateral sections extending from the forward end to the rear end, each ofthe adjacent complimentary edges having a profile section with theprofile sections in alignment with one another to combine to accommodatea portion of an elongate fastener; and a guide defining a longitudinalaxis spaced from said surfaces and laterally aligned with the adjacentcomplimentary edges.
 15. The bracket of claim 14, wherein the profilesections of the respective adjacent complimentary edges combine todefine a fastener profile having a distal shank portion extending from aproximal enlarged head portion.
 16. The bracket of claim 15, wherein theguide comprises a pair of guide walls laterally spaced from one another,with each guide wall in the pair of guide walls extending upward fromone of the two opposing lateral sections of the sheet, and an uppertransition section that extending between and connecting the guide wallsto one another.
 17. The bracket of claim 16, wherein each guide wall ofthe pair extends upward from the profile section of the complimentaryedge of the respective lateral section from which the guide wallextends.
 18. The bracket of claim 17, wherein each of the guide wallsextends from a complimentary edge at the distal shank portion of therespective complimentary edge.
 19. The bracket of claim 14, wherein saidbracket is formed from a single integral sheet of material.
 20. Abracket comprising: a sheet having medial edges which are disposed inadjacent relationship and form sections having coplanar surfacesextending from a forward end to a rear end; a guide having generallyparallel wall portions defining a guide slot and extending integrallyfrom said sections; and one or more openings defined inn each of saidcoplanar surfaces, wherein each of the adjacent medial edges of thesheet includes a profile section with each profile section in lateralalignment with the other profile section, the profile sections extendingthrough the forward end of the respective coplanar surface.